Placard fastener

Abstract

A placard system for use in the transportation industry. The placard system includes a holder including a cavity and a placard fastener mounting hole. The cavity is configured to receive a placard. The placard fastener mounting hole is spaced from an opening of the cavity and defining an axis of rotation. The placard system further includes a placard fastener engaged with the holder and swingable about the axis of rotation between a closed position in which the placard fastener blocks a portion of the opening of the cavity and an open position in which the placard fastener is spaced from the opening of the cavity. The placard fastener includes a planar base portion including a mounting hole, an engagement portion configured to engage the holder or the placard, and an actuation portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A placard system for a transportation container or vehicle, the placard system including:
 a holder including a cavity and a placard fastener mounting hole, the cavity configured to receive a placard, and the placard fastener mounting hole spaced from an opening of the cavity and defining an axis of rotation; 
 a placard fastener engaged with the holder and rotatable about the axis of rotation between a closed position in which the placard fastener blocks a portion of the opening of the cavity and an open position in which the placard fastener is spaced from the opening of the cavity, the placard fastener including:
 a base portion including a mounting hole, 
 a securing portion configured to engage the holder or the placard, the securing portion being oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the base portion, and 
 an actuation portion oriented at a non-zero angle relative to an engagement portion. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The placard system of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity is formed between a first holder portion and a second holder portion, and a raised ridge is formed on the first holder portion and spaced from the opening of the cavity, and wherein the securing portion is positioned between the base portion and the engagement portion, the securing portion adapted to engage the raised ridge. 
     
     
       3. The placard system of  claim 2 , wherein the securing portion is friction fit against the raised ridge when the placard fastener is in the closed position. 
     
     
       4. The placard system of  claim 2 , wherein an end of the securing portion is spaced a distance from the first holder portion, and the distance is substantially the same as a height of the raised ridge. 
     
     
       5. The placard system of  claim 2 , wherein the securing portion is angled approximately 23-27 degrees with respect to the planar base portion. 
     
     
       6. The placard system of  claim 2 , wherein the actuation portion is angled approximately 23-27 degrees with respect to the engagement portion. 
     
     
       7. A placard system for a transportation container or vehicle, the placard system including:
 a holder including a cavity and a placard fastener mounting hole, the cavity configured to receive a placard, and the placard fastener mounting hole spaced from an opening of the cavity and defining an axis of rotation; 
 a placard fastener engaged with the holder and rotatable about the axis of rotation between a closed position in which the placard fastener blocks a portion of the opening of the cavity and an open position in which the placard fastener is spaced from the opening of the cavity, the placard fastener including:
 a base portion including a mounting hole, 
 an engagement portion configured to engage the holder or the placard, and 
 an actuation portion, 
 wherein the engagement portion includes a rivet that engages a lip of the placard holder. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The placard system of  claim 7 , wherein the rivet is a nylon rivet. 
     
     
       9. A placard system for a transportation container or vehicle, the placard system including:
 a holder including a cavity and a placard fastener mounting hole, the cavity configured to receive a placard, and the placard fastener mounting hole spaced from an opening of the cavity and defining an axis of rotation; 
 a placard fastener engaged with the holder and rotatable about the axis of rotation between a closed position in which the placard fastener blocks a portion of the opening of the cavity and an open position in which the placard fastener is spaced from the opening of the cavity, the placard fastener including:
 a base portion including a mounting hole, 
 an engagement portion configured to engage the holder or the placard, and 
 an actuation portion, 
 wherein the actuation portion includes a first tab and a second tab. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The placard system of  claim 1 , wherein the placard fastener is made from stainless steel. 
     
     
       11. A method for securing a placard within a placard holder for transportation, the method including:
 grasping an actuation portion of a placard fastener, the placard fastener including a base portion having a mounting hole defining an axis of rotation and an engagement portion configured to engage the placard holder, 
 swinging the placard fastener about the axis of rotation so that the placard fastener is spaced from an opening of a cavity of the placard holder; 
 positioning a placard within the cavity of the placard holder; and 
 swinging the placard fastener about the axis of rotation so that the placard fastener is blocking a portion of the opening of the cavity and so that the actuation portion is orientated above the placard; 
 frictionally engaging a securing portion of the placard fastener positioned between the base and the engagement portion against a raised ridge formed on the first holder portion and spaced from the opening of the cavity, 
 wherein the securing portion is oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the base portion. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein an end of the securing portion is spaced a distance from the first holder portion, and the distance is substantially the same as a height of the raised ridge. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the securing portion is angled approximately 23-27 degrees with respect to the base portion. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the actuation portion is angled approximately 23-27 degrees with respect to the engagement portion. 
     
     
       15. A method for securing a placard within a placard holder for transportation, the method including:
 grasping an actuation portion of a placard fastener engaged with the placard holder, the placard fastener including a base portion having a mounting hole defining an axis of rotation and an engagement portion configured to engage a lip of the placard holder, 
 swinging the placard fastener about the axis of rotation so that the placard fastener is spaced from an opening of a cavity of the placard holder; 
 positioning a placard within the cavity of the placard holder; and 
 swinging the placard fastener about the axis of rotation so that the placard fastener is blocking a portion of the opening of the cavity, 
 wherein the engagement portion includes a rivet. 
 
     
     
       16. A method for securing a placard within a placard holder for transportation, the method including:
 grasping an actuation portion of a placard fastener engaged with the placard holder, the placard fastener including a base portion having a mounting hole defining an axis of rotation and an engagement portion configured to engage a lip of the placard holder, 
 swinging the placard fastener about the axis of rotation so that the placard fastener is spaced from an opening of a cavity of the placard holder; 
 positioning a placard within the cavity of the placard holder; and 
 swinging the placard fastener about the axis of rotation so that the placard fastener is blocking a portion of the opening of the cavity, 
 wherein the actuation portion includes a first tab and a second tab. 
 
     
     
       17. A placard system for a transportation container for use with a transportation vehicle, the placard system including:
 a holder including a cavity and a raised ridge, the cavity configured to receive a placard, the cavity formed between a first holder portion and a second holder portion, and the raised ridge formed on the first holder portion and spaced from an opening of the cavity, a placard fastener mounting hole spaced from an opening of the cavity and defining an axis of rotation; 
 a placard fastener engaged with the holder and rotatable about the axis of rotation between a closed position in which the placard fastener is engaged with the raised ridge and blocks a portion of the opening of the cavity, and an open position in which the placard fastener is spaced from the opening of the cavity, the placard fastener including:
 a base portion having a mounting hole, 
 an engagement portion including a vinyl rivet that engages the placard or the placard holder configured to engage the holder or the placard, 
 a securing portion positioned between the planar base and the engagement portion, the securing portion adapted to engage the raised ridge, and 
 an actuation portion. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The placard system of  claim 17 , wherein an end of the securing portion is spaced a distance from the first holder portion, and the distance is substantially the same as a height of the raised ridge. 
     
     
       19. The placard system of  claim 17 , wherein the securing portion is at an angle of approximately 23-27 degrees from the base portion.